Women bare breasts all over world on International Go-Topless Day

It's a serious event that's also a bit of a spectacle and somewhat odd — it's organized by the Raelians, who believe aliens created humanity — and it draws more fully-clothed spectators than half-dressed participants. In it, breasts are bared.

It's not well known yet so it is certain most of you have never even heard of it: The International Go-Topless Day. It's a day when women, with the support of many men, take their tops off and rally through the streets of their city. In some cities the number of participants does not even hit a dozen so it's an event that needs more exposure.

Sunday, August 24th was the 7th Annual International Go-Topless Day and it was celebrated in over 50 countries in the world. Some cities, like San Antonio, Texas, experienced their first International Go-Topless Day, while others, like Vancouver, have been through it before (Vancouver's breast baring celebration was the city's 5th).

Here's a blurb from the Go-Topless website that was written by no less of a personage than Rael, the founder of GoTopless.org and spiritual leader of the Raelian Movement: "We are a U.S.-based organization founded in 2007 by spiritual leader Rael and we claim that women have the same constitutional right men have to go bare-chested in public.

"As long as men are allowed to be topless in public," Rael continues. "Women should have the same constitutional right. Or else, men should have to wear something to hide their chests."

Cities that took part this year included San Francisco, Seattle, Montreal, Hong Kong, Lyon in France, Paris, Tel Aviv, Byron in Australia, Harare in Zimbabwe and Amsterdam. The event attracted gawkers in most cities, lining the streets to stare and take photos as the topless women paraded by (the men are either topless or wearing bras). In New York about 200 women and men marched topless, chanting 'Free your breasts, Free your mind."

In Craiova, Romania the few topless woman taking part in their peaceful rally for breast baring equality were arrested, that despite having obtained permission from the city for their celebration/protest. It seems the police simply didn't think women should be allowed to go bare breasted in public, period. The women were later released.

The date of August 24 was chosen because of its proximity to August 26, Women's Equality Day in the U.S.